Hook



vet() Patented May 20, 193@ 'Ars ALMON E. CONRATH, OFVLA. GRANGE, ILLINOIS HOOK Appiicauon mea February 23, 1929. serial No. 342,213.

My invention relates to brackets.

It is common practice to hang clothes lines from joists or rafters in basements. Such lines frequently sag and Vprevent the necessary head room required for safety; further, if the line is too heavily loaded, the joists vor rafters are caused to be dislodged from their normal positions. All of this is, of course, highly objectionable.

The objects of the invention are therefore, to provide an improved line supporting bracket or hook; to provide such a hook that will brace the joists or rafters to Which the same is secured; and, lastly generally to provide an inexpensive `device ofthe kind stated for the purposes specified.

These desirable objects are achieved in the illustrative embodiment of this invention shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which: r

Figure 1, is a general cross sectional view through the joist structure for the ceiling of a basement, the hook structure supporting a line also being shovvn;

Figure 2, is an end vien7 of the hook; and,

Figure 3 is a face view of the hook.

Referring now to Figure 1, it Will be seen v.

that a floor and ceiling structure has .been

shown at 10, supported in the conventional manner, on the spaced joists 11.

The improved bracket or hook comprises a short straight portion 12 from which extends a relatively long diagonal brace por H tion 13. At the angle, Where the two por tions meet is formed a hook portion 14 which extends in the direction of the brace portion and in Working position is arranged with the open side of the hook closely adjacent the brace portion 13 so that a line carried by the book Will not accidentally become displaced therefrom. rThe other ends of the straight portion and diagonal brace portion terminate in flattened attachingflanges 15 lying in the same plane and having countersunk openings 16 to receive screws 17 for attachment to the underside of the joists 11, as appears in Figure 1. The major portion of the hook in practice may be formed of rod stock suitably bent to the desired form with the hook billpreferably narrowing to a reduced tip CII portion, in the manner shown. The hook is integrally formed as a single piece and all of its parts lie 1n substantially the same plane.

In use tWo hooksV must be employed in the manner shovvn in Figure 1, with a clothes line 18 having its ends made fast to the hooks 14. A spring 19 is included in the line to take up objectionable sag When the line is not in use.

Obviously, the diagonal portion 13 serves as a joist brace and also reinforces the portion 12 to prevent distortion of the hook under heavy loads.

From this disclosure it must now be apparent that an improved clothes line support and joist brace has been provided which achieves all of the desirable objects heretofore recited.

Itis the intention to cover all such changes of the form herein shown as do not materially depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is indicated in the following claims.

What I claim is:

A combined clothes line hook bracket and joist brace, said device comprising a depending vertical portion provided with a horizontal securing flange adapted for aiixation to a joist, a diagonal portion extendingl vfrom the vertical portion and provided at its free end With a horizontal securing flange adapted for aftixation to an adjoining joist, i said flanges lying in the same horizontal plane, and a hook formed as a continuation of the vertical and diagonal portions, said hook located exterior of the included angle between the portions and curved in the direction of the diagonal portion With the end of its bill arranged closely adjacent the diagonal portion, said hook adapted to receive a tension member exerting a pull in the direction of the diagonal portion, whereby the said diagonal portion serves as a joist brace and strengthens the hook by resisting t-he pull vof the tension member thereon.

Chicago, illinois, February 16th, 1929. ALMON E. CONRATH. 

